"How large the dreaded Gila Monster grows, no man can say." — from the forgettable 1959 B-movie, The Giant Gila Monster

One of the Sonoran Desert's fascinating creatures is the Gila Monster (pronounced HEE-lah), the only poisonous lizard native to the US and one of the oldest lizards in North America, with close relatives dating back 10,000 years.

Despite the claims of Hollywood horror films, Gila Monsters are not known for attacking and eating sleepy Texas towns.

They are one of the most strikingly-decorated lizards, with orange and black beaded scales that meander across their bodies in seemingly random patterns. Their faces and tongues are black, and their feet are tipped with claws used for digging up the nests of small animals. Their diet consists of quail eggs and whatever small creatures they can grab. They walk with a slow, pigeon-toed gait, lumbering along like some prehistoric beast as they search for food, water and love.

A fifty-foot Gila Monster would be quite impressive, but in real life they don't seem to grow more than two feet long. I've never seen one much bigger than a foot from nose to tail — still an impressive size for a lizard!

Gila Monsters are elusive creatures, preferring to live underground during the hottest summer days. So, whenever I stumble on one, I grab my camera. They aren't dangerous so long as you don't handle or corner them. You definitely don't want to get bitten — their jaws exert a bulldog grip as they grind on your flesh, their venom flowing from grooves in their teeth. Nasty.

Because they can go a long time between feedings, researchers wondered how the Gila Monster regulates insulin.

In work at the University of Alabama, in cooperation with Arizona State University, researchers isolated a protein from Gila Monster venom that stimulates the production of insulin. This Exendin-4 protein has only been found in the Gila Monster — it doesn't seem to occur in any other living animal. And its purpose in the Gila Monster isn't understood.

Exendin-4 has been synthesized into a drug that is effective in the treatment of Type-2 diabetes in humans. By stimulating the production of insulin, Exendin-4 helps the body process glucose, a necessary fuel for all cells.

Gila Monsters are another of God's remarkable creations. They are beautiful and fascinating animals, not well known outside of the southwest desert. Here are a few photos of the ones I've seen wandering through my yard. Enjoy!

Gila monster on the desert floor

Gila monster in the flower garden

Gila monster closeup

Photo credits: Charlie Lehardy

"Originally, I wanted to do it because of boyhood dreams. I don't know about girls, but I think most guys look up in the sky and wish they could ride on a cloud.... Things just look different from up there. The best thing is the peace, the serenity." — Kent Couch Flies to Idaho

Exactly.

I've always envied hawks and the way they soar on the air currents. In my college days, I dreamed of owning a sailplane and floating on the thermals, silent and unpowered.

Instead, I went for window seats on commercial flights. Way cheaper; definitely not serene, though.

When I was a boy living in a place where there were trees and forests, I used to climb to the tops of tall trees and sway gently in the breeze as I looked out to the horizon. There was something compelling about being able to see far away. Peace and serenity, to use Mr. Couch's words, somehow came from the feeling that I was above the world and its concerns.

Personality comes into play here, of course. I know many people who would find the isolation and boredom of 10 hours suspended from balloons intolerable. It may be the sort of thing that only appeals greatly to introverts, and dreamers.

I read an account recently about an around-the-world sailing race, a many-months-long effort in which the contestants sailed their boats single-handed, with only a radio to stay in touch with home. As one French contestant drew closer to the end, his dread of returning to the boisterous realities of civilization grew. He had come to love the isolation of the vast empty ocean. When the moment arrived to change course for the finish line, he continued on, instead, deciding to remain at sea.

Mr. Couch also spoke of "boyhood dreams." We all have dreams, though perhaps most of them are not as wacky as flying lawn chairs. We don't always take our dreams very seriously. Many are impractical. The commitments we have made to our work and family may prevent us from acting on them. Money, time, and a host of other realities can keep us from pursuing our dreams.

Fear may hamper us. Fear of failure; fear of new experiences. In Mr. Couch's case, there was the fear of plummeting thousands of feet to his death, though he mitigated that possibility by wearing a parachute. In April, Brazilian priest Father Adelir de Carli flew aloft tethered to 1,000 helium party balloons and was not seen again, until his body was found by Brazilian sailors adrift in the ocean.

Dreams don't usually involve death-defying stunts. Single men and women dream of meeting a soul mate, marrying, raising children. We dream of a fulfilling career, a comfortable home, financial security. Once we have achieved some of those goals, our dreams turn to more exotic things. A trip to some special place or perhaps some memorable experience. Perhaps completing something left undone, like finishing a high school or college degree.

My post about Faith in America went up after a 50-day hiatus, and I feel as though I owe you readers an explanation.

I am subject to depression and have been off and on since I was in my teens. Most of the time, I'm able to manage this condition by taking a nightly dose of an SSRI anti-depressant. I've taken a lot of powerful anti-depressant drugs in my life, and nothing has worked as well with as few side effects as this new class of drugs known as SSRIs. It's one of the mysteries of the brain that scientists don't really know why they are effective in combating depression. But they are.

Except when they aren't. Every so often, my depression seems to overwhelm the ability of the drug to keep the chemicals in my brain properly balanced. The current theory of depression is that it is caused by some improper balance of neurotransmitter chemicals, primarily serotonin. When I'm under stress or I've been sick or I'm traveling and not getting enough rest and exercise, depression sometimes gets the better of me.

It is estimated that 9.5% of the US adults suffer from depression. The symptoms can vary. In my case, I feel tired and can't get enough rest. I feel unhappy and can't find pleasure in things that are normally enjoyable. I begin to feel as if dark clouds are swirling around me. I become irritable. Concentrating on my work takes much more energy than usual. And my ability to be creative disappears.

I started a great many blog posts over the past couple of months, but they were all a mess. Incoherent. Moody. Not suitable for public consumption. And I wasn't able to finish any of them.

We do not have dual, separate natures. Our spirit is very much entangled with our physical being in this life. Therefore, what affects our bodies may also affect our spirit. Depression can make it difficult for us to experience God's presence. We know from Paul's testimony (2 Cor. 12:7-9) that God sometimes chooses not to heal us of certain physical ailments, despite our prayers, our faith, and His knowledge of the way these things will limit us.

Despite his prayers in Gethsemane, Jesus was not permitted to avoid the pain and suffering of the cross.

My depression is nothing like what Jesus endured, I want to be clear about that. But the cross teaches us that our short lives in these bodies will include suffering. That can mean the pain of losing a loved one to an unexpected, early death. It can mean disabling, physical injury or illness. It can also mean psychological difficulties. Despite these things, the love of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit are unchanged.

Jesus gave his disciples this warning, and this promise:

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. — John 16:33

My depression seems to be lifting and my ability to write seems to be returning. I appreciate your encouragement of my work here on AnotherThink and I appreciate your prayers. We're in an interesting season as we move towards the 2008 presidential elections. I'll have more to say about that and other things relating to faith in these postmodern times, in the next few days.

According to the latest Pew Forum US Religious Landscape Survey, an ongoing examination of American religious beliefs and practices, 92% of us are betting on the existence of God or a "universal spirit." 7 in 10 are "absolutely certain" God exists, and 60% say God is not merely a "life force," but a relational being.

Hedging their bets, 20% of atheists also believe in God, which is like discovering that 20% of PETA members have fur coats stashed in their closets.

America is bursting with faith.

Three-quarters of Americans say they pray at least weekly — unfortunately, we don't know if those prayers concern lottery picks, parking spaces, or weightier matters. But nearly half claim they have received specific answers to their prayers in the past year.

Three-quarters of Americans believe in some sort of afterlife, and 80% believe that God is still in the miracle business. In fact, Americans hold strongly to a belief in divine healing.

Predictably, we are divided about the political implications of faith. And, the Pew research makes it clear that religious belief and practice is still more common among conservatives, with lack of belief more common among liberals. About one-third of liberals say religion is unimportant to them, compared to only one in five conservatives who agree.

This "faith-gap" in politics has been well documented, and Democrats have made serious attempts to field candidates who are able to talk the faith talk. Barack Obama is the perfect example of this new Democratic attempt to tap into America's religious fervor.

America is unusual in this regard, at least among its western peers. While Europe has become increasingly secular, America has held on to its religious roots. Mainline denominations may be shrinking, but churches that express certainty about God are thriving.

Why have we resisted the lure of secularism? Why, despite so many attempts to bury God, are so many refusing to let go of their faith?